SayariLabs and Colonel Hillary Kipkosgey, Ag Director-General Kenya Space Agency (KSA) jointly virtually signed the launch agreement of the Taifa-1 Nanosatellite with Exolaunch. According to SayariLabs, it was an honour to receive the goodwill and support of the Kenya Space Agency – the mandated promoter, coordinator and regulator of space-related activities in Kenya.

Taifa-1 (“one nation” in Swahili), will launch into orbit aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket in February 2023, per its schedule. In the past decade, East Africa has suffered heavy droughts and wildfires, leading to recurring water crises, and damages to local agriculture and food supplies. As a result, Taifa-1 will feature a hyperspectral, Earth-observation camera that will empower customers with relevant environmental, wildlife, and agricultural monitoring as well as land use mapping data in the fight against natural disasters.

In addition, EnduroSat and SayariLabs signed an MOU, which is another milestone for the successful partnership and upcoming joint space projects of the two companies. To this end, EnduroSat organised a two-week educational training for SayariLab’s engineering team, dedicated to space systems and engineering, covering all aspects of mission analysis, design, and spacecraft assembly.

According to Aaron Nzau, Founder and CEO of SayariLabs, the Kenyan company is on a mission to democratise these industries for all interested players in the African region and in making Kenya a space giant in the next generation.